CalRecycle to hold May public hearing on Ridgecrest compliance order

After years of scrutiny under the eyes of the state recycling agency, Ridgecrest is set to have its case heard at a public hearing on May 21 in Sacramento, according to City Manager Dennis Speer during his report to the city council on Saturday.

After years of scrutiny under the eyes of the state recycling agency, Ridgecrest is set to have its case heard at a public hearing on May 21 in Sacramento, according to City Manager Dennis Speer during his report to the city council on Saturday.

"The state is holding a public hearing to remove the order of compliance against the City of Ridgecrest," Speer told the council.

Mayor Pro Tem Jason Patin asked if the city would recoup any of the fines levied against the city by Cal Recycle.

Speer said he would need to check with the city attorney's office over the matter but indicated it was being looked into as a possibility.

Ridgecrest was slammed with a mandate with by CalRecycle — then the California Integrated Waste Management System — in 2007 after failing to meet certain state standards.

At a public hearing in 2009, CalRecycle slapped a $47,580 fine on the city for failing to make a good-faith effort to implement the changes, with the $20,000 paid up front and $27,580 held while it continued to work on its compliance order.

During a Monday agenda briefing, Speer said that Ridgecrest Mayor Dan Clark would receive an official notice for the hearing.

"If the compliance order is dropped, it will mean the city will not be under the strict observation," Speer said. "They (CalRecycle) watch very closely on our quarterly reports to make sure we are in compliance."

Speer said that an investigator periodically visits to observe and photograph dumpsters to make sure the city follows through.

"They monitor pretty closely and we would move away from that if the compliance order is dropped," Speer said.

When asked whether the compliance order would be dropped by the state, Speer said it was likely a positive outcome.